County's 'Pig' armored vehicle is going, going, gone

A 1955 armored personnel carrier sits in the parking lot at the Camarillo Police Department. Purchased by the sheriff's SWAT team 10 years ago, it is going to two police departments in Tulare County for $1.

Ventura County Star

A 1955 armored personnel carrier that the sheriff's SWAT team bought 10 years ago has to be essentially given away because no one wants to buy it.

Ventura County Star

Sheriff's Sgt. John Miller doubts anyone will miss the armored transport vehicle known as "The Pig."

The Ventura County sheriff's SWAT team acquired the 1955 British personnel carrier in 2001 to provide cover under fire. Officers want hulking military vehicles on hand in case they have to make a rescue in a mass school shooting, save a downed officer or go into other hostile scenes where bullets could be flying.

"You never know when you're going to need one," said Miller, who serves on the SWAT team. "Most agencies keep one for the huge event that God forbid none of us has, but it's kind of an insurance policy."

The SWAT team rarely used the Humber Pig. It traveled at a top speed of perhaps 30 mph to 35 mph, too slow to get anywhere in a hurry, Miller said. So the vehicle left its parking space at the Camarillo Police Department mostly for events that could be planned, such as SWAT training and service of search warrants on gang members.

The vehicle was a temporary measure until the agency could come up with the money to buy a modern alternative, sheriff's officials said. That happened last year, when the sheriff's office used federal dollars to buy a modern armored vehicle at a base cost of $225,000, allowing The Pig to be sold.

Brokers could find no suitable buyers despite research showing the vehicle could be worth $3,000 to $5,000, Sheriff Geoff Dean said.

So the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave Dean permission to sell the vehicle for $1 to two small police departments in Tulare County — the only law enforcement agencies to show an interest.

Although the county essentially is giving away the vehicle, adding the $1 fee makes the contract for the transfer binding.

Sheriff's officials did not know the history of the vehicle, but the British Army used The Pig from the 1950s to the 1990s, according to the website Wikipedia. About 1,700 reportedly were made. They became common sights in Northern Ireland as unrest escalated in the 1960s and 1970s, according to various sources.

County Counsel Leroy Smith said the county did not have to sell the vehicle to the highest bidder.

A special police team serving the towns of Exeter and Farmersville will get the vehicle. Exeter Police Chief Cliff Bush said he could not afford the $200,000 price tag for a new armored carrier, so the gift from Ventura County is welcome.

"It would allow our team safer access to hostile environments," he said. "We have one armored vehicle, but it's not running. This one should go into service right away."